40 Under 40 Catch-up: A Little Distance, A Lot of Perspective

The old adage says that time can heal all wounds, but how do you heal in the midst of a worldwide public health crisis?

While we're two wearying years into the COVID-19 pandemic now, time has indeed played an important part, giving many young professionals the opportunity and space to regroup and reexamine what they want from life and their careers.

They have learned to adapt to extraordinary circumstances, with many of them nowhere close to where they started in 2020. 

And Erie is all the better for it.

The Reader caught up with three previous honorees of Erie's 40 Under 40 to check in, see what they're up to, and see what time has wrought.

We reached out Corey Cook, from the Class of 2014, the current director of operations and logistics for the Erie Downtown Development Corporation (EDDC), CEO of CookMediaLLC, and program director of Lifethrumusic; Amanda Duncan, the current community leader of Radius CoWork and president and chairwoman of Young Erie Professionals; and Padma Rai, the owner of Annapurna Kitchen.

Corey Cook, Class of 2014

ER: It has been eight years since your inclusion in the 40 Under 40 list, and a lot has changed since then. 

Can you speak a little to the evolution of your career these past eight years? 

Corey Cook: The location of my career has changed, but at the core of what I have been doing for the last 16 years is operations and community development work. 

At UPS it was all about hitting production goals, timing, safety, and efficiency, working in a very rigid corporate environment. Working in the nonprofit sector was all about community-focused development with limited funding and resources, but the impact on lives was the ultimate goal. 

These two very different experiences have been great learning experiences for me.

ER: What was it about Erie Downtown Development Corporation (EDDC) that made you want to be a part of the organization? What differences in the lives of people in Erie do you see the organization making now and in the future?

CC: I was a part of the EDDC's Community Engagement Council and knew about the work being done. For me, having the opportunity to have an impact on the development downtown was an opportunity that I could not pass on. 

 There are core elements of community and entrepreneurship in both the [Flagship City] Food Hall and Public Market. I call the food hall "the community's dining room." It's located in the heart of downtown and so many people from different walks of life come to enjoy a meal, have a drink, and meet up. Having spaces like the food hall and market will have a lasting impact from an economic, health, and community perspective downtown for years to come.

ER: Finally, we're into the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Has there been an instance where you found yourself pivoting/growing/evolving because of it, and what did you learn from that experience?

CC: During the pandemic, I was able to start CookMediaLLC, a media services company specializing in photography, video, and live sound. It's something I have been doing for years as a hobby and decided to make it an official business. 

Since starting CookMediaLLC we have been blessed with opportunities to do corporate work, weddings, family shoots, events, and have our work published in major trades work magazines. 

It has also been a blessing to have my wife LaTasha Cook as my partner in this venture.

Amanda Duncan, Class of 2020

ER: It has only been two years since your inclusion on the 40 Under 40 list, but even still, much has changed for you!

Can you speak a little to the evolution of your career these past two years? 

Amanda Duncan: Shortly after the 2020 40 under 40 edition came out, I had the opportunity to lead Radius CoWork and accepted without hesitation. 

Building intentional communities is what drives and inspires me and the community at Radius has been a core part of my life since I moved back to Erie in 2017. This was a big pivot for me. 

My entire career [up until then] had been managing nonprofit organizations. I've learned a lot about small businesses over the past 18 months. I've really enjoyed exploring and being part of Erie's entrepreneurial ecosystem. There is a strong, collaborative effort in Erie to support innovation and entrepreneurship in our region. I feel honored to be part of that and learn from my peers.

ER: What was it about Radius CoWork that made you want to be a part of the organization? What differences in the lives of people in Erie do you see the organization making now and in the future?

AD: While Radius has a very cool space, great views, and my favorite cup of coffee in town, the physical aspects are secondary to the incredible community of people we have. 

Everyone genuinely wants each other to succeed and are willing to help each other out in any way they can. It's beautiful what passionate people can create when they're put in a room together. My position as community leader has made me appreciate how critical these communities are to entrepreneurial growth at a macro level. 

Coworking spaces like Radius break down so many barriers for people looking to start their own business or become freelancers. Colocation provides opportunities for collaboration that would otherwise not exist. 

After almost seven years, we can see the positive impact Radius has made on Erie's economy through the success of multiple businesses that grew out of the coworking space like MenajErie Studio, Whitethorn Digital, and ApexDrop (to name just a few).

ER: Finally, we're into the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Has there been an instance where you found yourself pivoting/growing/evolving because of it, and what did you learn from that experience?

AD: The pandemic was a hard time for us as it was for all small businesses, but our members rallied around us to make sure Radius survived. The pandemic showed us that Radius truly is more than just the physical space. It was the ultimate test of our community and we nailed it. 

Even when we couldn't come together in person, we found ways to continue connecting with and supporting each other. We have slowly begun to grow membership and are looking forward to adding back our in-person programming. We're carefully watching how the pandemic has shifted the workforce and examining ways to support that change by providing a space and community for new remote workers, startup businesses, and freelancers. We want to make sure they're equipped with the tools and support system they need to be successful. 

A big project we've been working on that we are super excited for is Freelance Week Erie. It's a weeklong conference of workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities tailored for freelancers of all kinds happening April 18-22, 2022. You can find the full schedule and tickets at freelanceweekerie.com.

Padma Rai, Class of 2020

ER: It has only been two years since your inclusion on the 40 Under 40 list, but even still, much has changed for you!

You've gone from social worker to restaurateur — can you speak a little to the evolution of your career these past two years?

PR: I have become more thoughtful and productive. I'm able to share an authentic taste of Nepal with my new American friends through my restaurant Annapurna Kitchen ("Annapurna" meaning both full and sufficient of grains and also the name of the 10th tallest mountain in the world). Even though I have changed from a caseworker to a business personality, I still haven't changed my desire to help those who are in need of my help. Now I'm physically working as a server; it's a beautiful experience for me while explaining each dish to customers who are trying new food. Overall, the bigger you grow, the bigger the responsibilities are on your shoulders. It's the circle of life. I'm happy with what I used to do and what I'm doing now. 

ER: In addition to Annapurna Kitchen, your Facebook indicates that you have opened or are in the process of opening a clothier shop. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

PR: Yes! Gurung Fashion & Design clothing line is soon to be open for the public. I learned tailoring back in Nepal. I'm thankful to my school systems where students get to work on drawing. I used to be happy drawing flowers more than drawing a body diagram in science class. My personal understanding is that a person who is good at art could survive anywhere. 

I wanted to motivate and see more women in business, that's why I'm focused on woman-based handmade ethnic and party wear. A friend of mine had to quit her job because of a language barrier. I decided why not involve her in this business where she doesn't have to communicate in English with customers; she's good at cutting and getting ten different designs from [a piece of] fabric. If you need jean fittings, me or my friend could easily work on it.

ER: Finally, we're into the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Has there been an instance where you found yourself pivoting/growing/evolving because of it, and what did you learn from that experience?

PR: The impact in sales. It was super slow in winter, and now the increase in gas prices has slowed some of the online platforms. You could get our food delivery through GrubHub.

I'm promoting our food by engaging in cultural events, like the Sakela event happening on June 11, 2022. It's organized by the Bhutanese Kirat Rai organization of America, where I worked as an international and national outreach coordinator. So I'm going to be a little busy these couple months, helping to promote my cultural events. It's going to be downtown in Perry Square.

Cara Suppa can be reached at csuppa@eriereader.com. Jessica Hunter can be found at jessicahunterphotos.com 

For more information, go to erieddc.org, cook-media.com, radiusco.work, or annapurnakitchenerie.com.